Good Morning!!  Sadly, we are leaving Canada today.  Happily, we are going back into the great USA!!  Where our cellphones and internet work so much better.  Oh, yea…. and my MGD beer is cheaper.  The little things!

Yesterday when we arrived the dock attendant mentioned the rocks.  We really couldn’t see them too well because of the waves and splashing.  I got a view this morning just before we cast off.  They look really really close!  The deception between the clarity of the water and the depth.   I just told Wayne don’t go forward!! when we left the dock.

7am and we can see the rocks!! right under the boat!

Leaving lovely Meldrum Bay, ON

Our cruise today is another short day.  We will be going to Drummond Island, Michigan to check in with Customs and stay for at least 1 night.  We opted for 3 short hops along the southern portion of the North Channel instead of 1 short and 1 long day.  We have really enjoyed cruising in these waters.  Deep – more than 100 feet deep – and little chance of hitting anything.

Meldrum Bay, ON to Drummond Island, MI

9 am – Nice flat water.

10.51am – crossed over into the USA!!

Time to Hoist the Yellow Quarantine Flag

We had 3 requests from the Drummond Island Marina folks when we got within VHF distance of their harbor.  Pump Out, Fuel, and Customs.  No Problem

A Custom’s Officer met us at the fuel dock.  They have an office right there at the marina.  How convenient is that?  Wayne was ready to talk to the agent but he went down into the engine room to get a fuel reading.  I had the pleasure of interacting with the Officer.  The fuel and pump out would have to wait until we had cleared customs.  The young lady verified who we are via our Passports.  Yes, we still look like our pictures.

She asked for the “Decal Number”.  The “Decal” is required for US boats.  It verifies that we paid our entrance fee of $27.50 to be allowed back into the country.  It is a yearly fee, so we could theoretically come and go many times this year to and fro Canada without having to pay any additional sum.  Who knew that is required?

She asked about fruit and vegetables.  We ate everything before arriving.  No pets.  No guns.  No liquor.  She climbed aboard and walked quickly from room to room.  Nice Boat, was her comment.  She cleared us!!  We can now get off the boat, get fuel, and get pumped out.  All glorious things!  I quickly took down the Yellow Quarantine flag and Canadian courtesy flag.  We had always had our Stars and Stripes up on the stern waving proudly in the wind.

We backed up, turned around and Wayne drove us into our slip.  The slip was across from the fuel dock but a long walk all the way around the basin to the marina office.  To get to the mainland, we had to walk through a Covered boat shed.  It reminded me of several SyFy type movie where something strange would happen to you.  Like a giant tentacle coming from between and beneath the water, grab you and suck you under.  Since it is a shed, no one would see this happening.  Go in one door and never come out again.  mwa ha ha

Covered Boat shed

At night we had to use our flashlights to go from one end to the other.  Eeerie!!

FYI – good wifi is available from the marina folks.  BUT terrible…to NO Cell Phone …at least no VerizonWireless coverage.  After all, it is an island.  In the middle of two large bodies of water.  What should I expect?

By nightfall, there are a couple more Loopers at the marina for the night.  We all met and talked ‘weather forecasts’.  Do we go tomorrow or stay another day?  Waves and winds?  Everyone has their favorite website they use for that kind of information.  We generally agreed that we wouldn’t really know until morning when the updated forecasts come out.

Sunset at Drummond Island, MI

On the other side of the boat, this sunset was visible:

Sunset at Drummond Island, MI